Chicago Homebuyers Are Watching Rates Closely — And Activity Is Starting to Pick Up

              Mortgage activity is showing signs of life again, and that matters here in Chicago, where buyers and homeowners have been sitting on the sidelines waiting for a reason to move. New mortgage applications rose 2.8% for the week ending February 13, according to the Mortgage Bankers Associ

Illinois Property Tax Exemptions: How Homeowners Can Lower Their Tax

    llinois Property Tax Exemptions: How Homeowners Can Lower Their Tax Bill Many Illinois homeowners don’t realize they may be overpaying on property taxes simply because they haven’t claimed the exemptions they qualify for. If you own and live in your home, you may be eligible for tax relief that

Illinois Ranks Among States With Higher Foreclosure Activity — What It Means for Chicago Homeowners

Foreclosure activity continued to rise nationwide last year, but the overall picture remains far less severe than past housing downturns. According to year-end data from ATTOM, foreclosure filings were reported on 367,460 U.S. properties in 2025, a 14% increase from 2024. Even with that rise, forecl

How the Federal Government Shutdown Is Quietly Freezing Out Some Homebuyers

                                                                     Photo by:Tima Miroshnichenko        How the Federal Government Shutdown Is Quietly Freezing Out Some Homebuyers          The federal government shutdown has halted USDA home loans, leaving many rural and suburban Chicago buyers in